TELEVISION viewers are due to be given an insight into a project by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust to reintroduce wildflower hay meadows.

Presenter Larry Lamb visited the ancient Bell Sykes hay meadows near Slaidburn for Discovering Britain, where he met with Sarah Robinson, from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) to talk about the specie-rich hay meadows.

As a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Bell Sykes is home to moisture loving plants, and in contrast the upper fields include a colourful mix of meadow crane’s-bill, melancholy thistle, yellow rattle, eyebrights, pignut, buttercups and lady’s mantle which prefer dry conditions.

The programme-makers visited the meadow last year and the episode is due to be aired at 9pm tonight (Wednesday, February 10) on More4. It is also available to view online.

Sarah said: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to show off these very special meadows. Larry seemed genuinely fascinated by the whole hay meadow experience.”

Over the last fifty years, 97 per cent of meadows in the UK have been lost through agricultural intensification, making them one of our most threatened habitats. Only 1,000 hectares (less than 4 square miles) survived, putting many native wildlife species, and links with cultural heritage, at risk.

Through the Hay Time project, YDMT and The Forest of Bowland AONB have worked with landowners and partners to restore more than 600 hectares (over two square miles) of degraded meadows across the region so far, helping to save this precious habitat for future generations.

If you missed the programme, it can be viewed at; http://www.channel4.com/programmes/discovering-britain